Byron Kinnard TQs & Wins at USVTA

The 2017 U.S. Indoor Champs was held this past Thanksgiving weekend at the Embassy Suite Hotel outside Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the oldest onroad carpet events with almost 40 years under its belt. The event has become more popular over the last few years, with entry count going over the 400 mark, this year reaching 496, just a few shy of 500. And this is all onroad carpet racing, with classes ranging from the likes of F1, WGT-R, Mod TC, and VTA, even a special return to foam Mod TC.

Friday morning started qualifying with Vintage Trans-Am up front. After some very good racing by current USVTA National Champion Adam Hutchinson, TQ was his for the first two rounds of qualifying. Saturday rolled around, as well as traction. Changes were needed to make a move on TQ. The traction was good enough that the rear stayed planted in the 180’s. At the start of the 3rd qualifier Team Associated’s Byron Kinnard pulled out a great run, which gave him the TQ. By round 4 the excitement was overwhelming because the spread of cars 1-15 were all on the same lap (20), and cars 16-27 (19), and 18 for the rest of the 40 cars, so it was anybody’s ball game. But with a steady wheel and a determination like no other Byron pulled a duplicate from round 3.

Sunday was the main event. Will Sheffield had put in over four hours of track time and setup Saturday nite and Sunday morning, pushing his driving and car to the limit. After three identical runs back to back to back, Byron finally take home the USIC VTA title with the TQ. His teammates Tom the Postman in second and Will Sheffield in third rounded out the top 3.